If you’re aiming to ace a spelling bee, whether for school or at the national level, our comprehensive series of posts is here to help.
In this post we look specifically at 12th grade words starting with B – but check out the main post for tips on how best to practice and become an even better speller as well as lists on every letter of alphabet.
Get into gear and prepare yourself to earn gold medal glory as reigning spelling bee champ.
12th Grade Spelling Bee Words that Start with the Letter B
Bacchanalian – (adjective) relating to or characterized by drunkenness and rowdy behavior. “The party was a bacchanalian celebration that lasted well into the night.”
Bane – (noun) something that causes great distress or annoyance. “Loud noise is the bane of my existence.”
Beguile – (verb) charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive way; to mislead by guile. “He could not help but be beguiled by her beauty.”
Behoove – (verb) to be necessary or proper for. “It behooves us to be on time for our appointment.”
Belabor – (verb) to explain something at excessive length; to beat or assault repeatedly. “His teacher belabored the concept until everyone understood.”
Bellwether – (noun) a person, thing, or event that leads others. “The company has been a bellwether for the industry, setting trends that are quickly adopted by its competitors.”
Benediction – (noun) a blessing. “The priest ended the service with a benediction.”
Beneficent – (adjective) doing good. “She is a beneficent person who always puts others before herself.”
Besmirch – (verb) to damage the reputation of someone; to soil or stain. “She tried her best to besmirch his good name in front of the class.”
Biennial – (adjective) happening every two years; lasting for two years. “The biennial event attracts attendees from all over the world.”
Bifurcate – (verb) to divide into two parts. “The road bifurcates just after the bridge.”
Billingsgate – (noun) coarse, abusive language. “He was known for his use of billingsgate and often got in trouble for it.”
Blase – (adjective) showing lack of interest or enthusiasm; nonchalant. “He was blasé about his success, as if it were no big deal.”
Blight – (noun) something that spoils or damages. “The blight on the tomatoes made them unsellable.”
Blithe – (adjective) carefree and lighthearted. “She sang a blithe tune as she skipped down the path.”
Bombast – (noun) using high-sounding language with little meaning; pompous speech or writing. “He was always known for his bombast during debates which made him look silly.”
Bonhomie – (noun) a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. “The bonhomie at the dinner party was undeniable.”
Boorish (adjective) rude and insensitive. “His boorish behavior at the party made him quite unpopular.”
Bovine – (adjective) relating to or resembling a cow; dull and slow-moving. “He had a bovine demeanor, never showing any emotion.”
Brackish – (adjective) slightly salty, as from a mixture of seawater and fresh water. “The water in the lake was brackish and not fit to drink.”
Bravura – (noun) great skill and energy. “The crowd was stunned by her bravura performance.”
Bucolic – (adjective) relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. “They had a bucolic weekend, enjoying nature and all it had to offer.”
Buffoonery – (noun) foolish behavior; clownish antics. “His buffoonery made everyone at the party laugh until their sides hurt.”
Bumptious – (adjective) overly assertive or self-important; presumptuous. “He was very bumptious, always talking down to others and taking credit for their work.”
Burnish – (verb) to make shiny or lustrous by rubbing; to polish. “He burnished the silverware until it sparkled.”
Buoyancy – (noun) a cheerful disposition; the ability of something to float in water or air. “The buoyancy of her attitude was infectious, making everyone around her happy.”
Buttress – (noun) a support or prop; to lend support to. “The buttress held up the wall of the castle.”
Byzantine – (adjective) intricate and complex. “The byzantine laws made understanding them nearly impossible.”
Byzantium – (noun) the ancient name of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. “The ruins of Byzantium were a popular tourist destination for many years.”
Byword – (noun) a phrase or saying that is commonly used; a proverb. “His name became a byword for success in the business world.”
